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June 10, 2021Mission Cooperative Collection June 12th and 13th
As part of our diocesan Mission Cooperative Plan, we will have a separate collection at all Masses this weekend (June 12th & 13th) in support of the Diocese of Marthandam, India.
The Diocese of Marthandam is located in Tamil Nadu, one of the Southern states of India. The civil district of Kanyakumari was coextensive with the Diocese. With effect from 1st October 2020 the territorial boundaries of the Diocese has been substantially increased by adding 20 more civil districts. The population covered under the diocesan area is 34 mission among them only 76,000 are Catholics belonging to our diocese. At present there are 74 priests and 250 nuns are in active ministry and 97 churches / mission stations. A priest’s pastoral ministry includes, not only initiating the people to ecclesial life, but also taking care of their educational, social and financial development. Despite its recent inception, the diocese has managed to start 16 schools, 21 kindergartens, 3 tailoring schools, 4 orphanages, 2 hospitals, 1 school for the differently abled, 2 homes fo the mentally challenged, 4 homes for the aged and 1 hospice. This year your support will be utilized for three areas of concern in the diocese.
1. Establishing New Mission stations: We have identified six mission centers in the newly added areas of the diocese. In these places we are building the communities which can be later formed as faith communities. We feel that continuous classes on Bible, basic catechism, sacraments, etc. are to be organized for the benefit of these catechumens. We need to construct mission churches in the newly established mission centers.
2. Formation of seminarians: We need more priests to serve in our parishes/mission stations. We try our best to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. At present we have 60 seminarians studying for the priesthood. The parents are not financially sound to support them. So the diocese has to meet all the expenses of the seminarians for their study to the priesthood.
3. Home for Aged: In order to take care of the neglected elderly people without discrimination of caste or creed we have taken an effort to construct a building near to Kanyakumari. A number of elderly people are living in abject poverty and neglect. The coronavirus pandemic very much affected our diocese financially. We look forward to your generosity to extend a helping hand in its various needs. I thank you sincerely for your prayers and support. God bless you all abundantly. Please pray for me and my diocese. † Vincent Mar Paulos Bishop of Marthandam
